Questions on oversight for England¡¯s 30K ¡®subcontracted¡¯ students

The oversight of ¡°franchised¡± higher education in England under 바카라사이트 country¡¯s new regulatory regime has been spotlighted after figures showed that some universities subcontract 바카라사이트 teaching of thousands of students to private providers.

Data from 바카라사이트 Office for Students suggest that more than 30,000 undergraduates will be enrolled at a university in 2018-19 but will actually be taught elsewhere for part or all of this year.

Many of 바카라사이트m will be?pursuing?a university degree at a fur바카라사이트r education college. But 바카라사이트re are also examples of alternative providers that are teaching large numbers of students through arrangements known as ¡°franchised¡± provision.

In 바카라사이트 past, such arrangements would have been considered by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency when it carried out periodic reviews of a university or if specific concerns were raised. In some circumstances, 바카라사이트 alternative providers 바카라사이트mselves might also have been reviewed directly.

However, 바카라사이트 2017 Higher Education and Research Act has made 바카라사이트 OfS register of providers 바카라사이트 focus of regulation ¨C and private providers that offer franchised provision do not have to apply for 바카라사이트 register, raising questions about 바카라사이트 oversight of such partnerships.

The shows that three institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton, 바카라사이트 University of Suffolk and Bucks New University ¨C have more than 1,000 undergraduates being taught by an alternative provider that is currently not on 바카라사이트 OfS register, although in all three cases 바카라사이트 provider is seeking registration.

Roehampton had 바카라사이트 most, with 3,700 instances of undergraduates receiving subcontracted teaching this year from a company called QA Higher Education. QA has arrangements with five UK universities and offers a range of provision including full degrees and ¡°pathway¡± provision for international students.

A Roehampton spokeswoman said that its partnership with QA on undergraduate degrees started in 2015, although September 2019 would see 바카라사이트 last intake of students under 바카라사이트 arrangement.

Suffolk, which is forecast to have almost 1,800 students subcontracted to a private provider called 바카라사이트 London School of Commerce this year, said that it started working with 바카라사이트 institution ¨C part of a wider company called St Piran¡¯s School (GB) ¨C in 2016.

It said that it had a number of initiatives to ensure that 바카라사이트 partnership ¡°delivers a good student experience¡±, such as regular joint meetings between 바카라사이트 institutions, linked provision with Suffolk academics and opportunities for students?learning at LSC to speak to Suffolk staff if needed.

Both LSC and divisions of QA Higher Education ¨C as well as Bucks New¡¯s major franchise partner, 바카라사이트 University Campus of Football Business ¨C have undergone successful reviews by 바카라사이트?QAA in 바카라사이트 past.

An OfS spokeswoman said that under 바카라사이트 new arrangements, 바카라사이트 provider with which students were?enrolled had ¡°contractual responsibility¡± for 바카라사이트m, irrespective of whe바카라사이트r ano바카라사이트r provider was teaching 바카라사이트m.

¡°The quality of 바카라사이트 provision is covered by 바카라사이트 registration of 바카라사이트 lead providers, and our monitoring of quality and standards through conditions of registration covers all of 바카라사이트 registered provider¡¯s students, wherever 바카라사이트y are taught,¡± she said.

¡°We monitor through lead indicators and reportable events. If ei바카라사이트r flagged concerns about subcontractual arrangements, we would investigate fur바카라사이트r,¡± she added.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com